Capped Range
A range of hands that cannot contain the very strongest possible holdings, usually because of how the action has unfolded in the hand.
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What Is Capped Range?
A range becomes capped when a player takes an action, such as checking or calling, that a player holding the nuts or near-nuts would be unlikely to take, signaling that their remaining possible holdings are limited in strength. Recognizing when an opponent's range is capped creates profitable opportunities to apply pressure through bluffs or overbets, since they are less equipped to defend against big bets. Capped ranges are especially relevant on later streets, such as when a player checks the turn after showing aggression on the flop, or checks back in position.
Examples
A player who checks back the turn in position likely has a capped range, missing the very strongest hands they would typically bet.
Facing a check from an opponent who capped their range by calling twice already, a player fires a large river overbet as a bluff.
Strategy Tips
Look for spots where an opponent's action reveals a capped range, such as checking back a strong betting street, and attack those spots with increased bluffing frequency. Use larger bet sizes, including overbets, when you've identified a capped opponent range, since they have fewer strong hands to defend with. Be mindful that skilled opponents will sometimes intentionally play strong hands in a way that mimics a capped range, so balance your reads with other information. Study solver outputs to understand which lines typically create capped versus uncapped ranges in common spots.